Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope

William F. Hoffmann; Philip M. Hinz; Denis Defrère; Jarron M. Leisenring; Andrew J. Skemer; Paul A. Arbo; Manny Montoya; Bertrand Mennesson

doi:10.1117/12.2057252

Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope

William F. Hoffmann, Philip M. Hinz, Denis Defrère, Jarron M. Leisenring, Andrew J. Skemer, Paul A. Arbo, Manny Montoya, Bertrand Mennesson

Steward Observatory

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mid-infrared (8-13 μm) camera, NOMIC, is a critical component of the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer search for exozodiacal light around near-by stars. It is optimized for nulling interferometry but has general capability for direct imaging, low resolution spectrometry, and Fizeau interferometry. The camera uses a Raytheon 1024x1024 Si:As IBC Aquarius array with a 30 μm pitch which yields 0.018 arc-second pixels on the sky. This provides spatial resolution (λ/D) at a 10 μm wavelength of 0.27 arc-seconds for a single 8.4 meter LBT aperture and of 0.10 arcseconds for Fizeau interferometry with the dual apertures. The array is operated with a differential preamplifier and a version of the 16 channel array controller developed at Cornell University for the FORCAST instrument on the Sofia Observatory. With a 2.4 MHz pixel rate the camera can achieve integration times as short as 27 milliseconds full array and 3 milliseconds partial array. The large range of integration times and two array integration well sizes allow for a wide range of background flux on the array. We describe the design and operation of the camera and present the performance of this system in terms of linearity, noise, quantum efficiency, image quality, and photometric sensitivity.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V
Editors	Suzanne K. Ramsay, Ian S. McLean, Hideki Takami
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9780819496157
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057252
State	Published - 2014
Event	Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V - Montreal, Canada Duration: Jun 22 2014 → Jun 26 2014

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	9147
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Other

Other	Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Montreal
Period	6/22/14 → 6/26/14

Keywords

IBC detector
Infrared astronomy
LBT
exozodiacal light
nulling interferometry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2057252

Cite this

Hoffmann, W. F., Hinz, P. M., Defrère, D., Leisenring, J. M., Skemer, A. J., Arbo, P. A., Montoya, M., & Mennesson, B. (2014). Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope. In S. K. Ramsay, I. S. McLean, & H. Takami (Eds.), Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V Article 91471O (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9147). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057252

Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope. / Hoffmann, William F.; Hinz, Philip M.; Defrère, Denis et al.
Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V. ed. / Suzanne K. Ramsay; Ian S. McLean; Hideki Takami. SPIE, 2014. 91471O (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9147).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Hoffmann, WF, Hinz, PM, Defrère, D, Leisenring, JM, Skemer, AJ, Arbo, PA, Montoya, M & Mennesson, B 2014, Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope. in SK Ramsay, IS McLean & H Takami (eds), Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V., 91471O, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 9147, SPIE, Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V, Montreal, Canada, 6/22/14. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057252

Hoffmann WF, Hinz PM, Defrère D, Leisenring JM, Skemer AJ, Arbo PA et al. Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope. In Ramsay SK, McLean IS, Takami H, editors, Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V. SPIE. 2014. 91471O. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2057252

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abstract = "The mid-infrared (8-13 μm) camera, NOMIC, is a critical component of the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer search for exozodiacal light around near-by stars. It is optimized for nulling interferometry but has general capability for direct imaging, low resolution spectrometry, and Fizeau interferometry. The camera uses a Raytheon 1024x1024 Si:As IBC Aquarius array with a 30 μm pitch which yields 0.018 arc-second pixels on the sky. This provides spatial resolution (λ/D) at a 10 μm wavelength of 0.27 arc-seconds for a single 8.4 meter LBT aperture and of 0.10 arcseconds for Fizeau interferometry with the dual apertures. The array is operated with a differential preamplifier and a version of the 16 channel array controller developed at Cornell University for the FORCAST instrument on the Sofia Observatory. With a 2.4 MHz pixel rate the camera can achieve integration times as short as 27 milliseconds full array and 3 milliseconds partial array. The large range of integration times and two array integration well sizes allow for a wide range of background flux on the array. We describe the design and operation of the camera and present the performance of this system in terms of linearity, noise, quantum efficiency, image quality, and photometric sensitivity.",

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AU - Skemer, Andrew J.

AU - Arbo, Paul A.

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AB - The mid-infrared (8-13 μm) camera, NOMIC, is a critical component of the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer search for exozodiacal light around near-by stars. It is optimized for nulling interferometry but has general capability for direct imaging, low resolution spectrometry, and Fizeau interferometry. The camera uses a Raytheon 1024x1024 Si:As IBC Aquarius array with a 30 μm pitch which yields 0.018 arc-second pixels on the sky. This provides spatial resolution (λ/D) at a 10 μm wavelength of 0.27 arc-seconds for a single 8.4 meter LBT aperture and of 0.10 arcseconds for Fizeau interferometry with the dual apertures. The array is operated with a differential preamplifier and a version of the 16 channel array controller developed at Cornell University for the FORCAST instrument on the Sofia Observatory. With a 2.4 MHz pixel rate the camera can achieve integration times as short as 27 milliseconds full array and 3 milliseconds partial array. The large range of integration times and two array integration well sizes allow for a wide range of background flux on the array. We describe the design and operation of the camera and present the performance of this system in terms of linearity, noise, quantum efficiency, image quality, and photometric sensitivity.

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Operation and performance of the mid-infrared camera, NOMIC, on the Large Binocular Telescope

Abstract

Publication series

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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